CHAPTER XIV
PAGEANT PLANS
As Patty was preparing for bed that night, Mona came tapping at herdoor.
"Come in," said Patty. "Oh, it's you, Mona,--well, I AM glad to seeyou! In the turmoil of this 'house party' of yours, we almost never seeeach other alone, do we?"
"No; and I'm sorry. But you're enjoying it, aren't you, Patty?"
"Yes, indeed! I love it! People running in and out all the time, and alot of people all over the house,--oh, yes, it's gay."
"Patty, I'm bothered about this Pageant business. How does it happenthat Daisy has taken your part?"
"It wasn't my part. It had never been assigned, until Guy persuadedDaisy to take it."
"Persuaded fiddlesticks! She MADE him give it to her."
"No, she didn't. She was determined NOT to have that part, but hecoaxed her into it. She told me so herself."
"Pooh! You don't know Daisy as I do. You're so sweet and generousyourself you think everybody else is. I wish I hadn't asked her here. Ithought she had outgrown her school-girl tricks. She was always likethat."
"Like what?"
"Nothing; never mind. What does Bill say about it?"
"Nothing. I don't believe he knows who's to be Spirit of the Sea. Andprobably he doesn't care."
"Probably he DOES! Don't be a goose, Patty Fairfield! You know thatgreat big angel Bill adores the ground you walk on."
"Is he as fond of Real Estate as all that? Well, I can't give it tohim, for it's your ground that I'm on most of the time, and I supposethe beach is owned by the Realty Company or something."
"FUNNY girl! Patty, you make me laugh boisterously with that wit ofyours! Well, Miss Sweetness, will you help me with my costume? Guy has'persuaded' ME to be Cleopatra on the Nile Float."
"Oh, Mona, how lovely! You'll be a PERFECT Cleopatra. Indeed I willhelp you! What are you going to wear?"
"Whatever's the right thing. Of course it must be magnificent ineffect. I'm going to send for a dressmaker and two helpers to-morrowmorning, and put them to work on it. They can fit linings while I sendto New York for the material. Lizette can go and select it. What do youthink of gold-brocaded white satin?"
"Appropriate enough for Cleopatra, but ridiculous for a pantomimecostume! Get white paper muslin or sateen, and trace a design on itwith gold paint."
"No, sir-ee! I don't get a chance to shine as a dramatic star often,and I'm going to have the finest costume I can think up!"
"Oh, Mona, you have no sense of proportion," laughed Patty; "go aheadthen, and get your white satin, if it will make you happy."
Apparently it would, and the two girls discussed the Cleopatra costumein all its details, until the little clock on the dressing-table heldits two hands straight up in shocked surprise.
After Mona left her, Patty gave herself a scolding. It was a habit ofhers, when bothered, to sit down in front of a mirror and "have it outwith herself" as she expressed it.
"Patty Fairfield," she said to the disturbed looking reflection thatconfronted her, "you're a silly, childish old thing to feeldisappointed because you weren't chosen to be Spirit of the Sea! Andyou're a mean-spirited, ill-tempered GOOSE to feel as you do, becauseDaisy Dow has that part. She'll be awfully pretty in it, and Guy Martinhad a perfect right to choose her, and she had a perfect right tochange her mind and say she'd take it, even if she HAD told you shedidn't want it! Now, Miss, what have you to say for yourself? Nothing?I thought so. You're vain and conceited and silly, if you think thatyou'd be a better Spirit of the Sea than Daisy, and you show a verysmall and disagreeable nature when you take it so to heart. Now, WILLyou brace up and forget it?"
And so practical and just was Patty's true nature that she smiled atherself, and agreed to her own remarks. Then dismissing the wholesubject from her mind, she went to bed and to sleep.
Next day she went in search of Laurence Cromer, and found that youngman sketching in a corner of one of the picturesque terraces of "RedChimneys."
"Why these shyness?" asked Patty, as he quickly closed his sketch-bookat her approach. "Why these modest coquetry? Art afraid of me? Gentlelittle me? Who wouldn't hurt a 'squito? Or am it that I be unworthy tolook upon a masterpiece created by one of our risingest young artists?"
"I don't want you to see this sketch till it's finished," said Cromer,honestly. "It's going to be an awfully pretty bit, but unfinished, itlooks like the dickens. Let me sketch you, Miss Fairfield, may I?"
"Yes, indeed; but can you talk at the same time? I want your advice."
"Oh, yes; the more I talk the better I work. Turn a little more to theright, please. Oh, that's perfect! Rest your fingertips on thebalustrade, so--now, don't move!"
"Huh," remarked Patty, as Cromer began to sketch in swiftly, "how longdo I have to stand this way? It isn't such an awful lot of fun."
"Oh, DON'T move! This is only a beginning, but I'll make a wonderfulpicture from it. That shining white linen frock is fine against thegleaming, sunlit marble of the terrace."
"All right, I'll stand," said Patty, goodnaturedly. "Now you can returnthe favour by helping me out of a quandary. Won't you advise me whatpart to take in the Pageant? As a matter of fact, I think all the bestparts are assigned, and I don't want to be 'one of the populace,' orjust 'a voice heard outside'! I want a picturesque part."
"I should say you did! Or, rather the picturesque parts all want you.Now, _I_'M designing the Niagara Float. It's unfinished, as yet,--thescheme, I mean,--but I know I want a figure for it, a sort of a,--well,a Maid of the Mist, don't you know. A spirituelle girl, draped all ingrey misty tulle, and dull silver wings,--long, curving ones, and astar in her hair."
"Lovely!" cried Patty. "And do you think I could be it?"
"Well, I had a brown-haired girl in mind. Your colouring is more like'Dawn' or 'Spring' or 'Sunshine.'"
"Oh, I HATE my tow-head!" exclaimed Patty. "I wish I was a nut-brownmaid."
"Don't be foolish," said Cromer, in a matter-of-fact way. "You are theperfection of your own type. I never saw such true Romney colouring.Pardon me, Miss Fairfield, I'm really speaking of you quiteimpersonally. Don't be offended, will you?"
"No, indeed," said Patty. "I quite understand, Mr. Cromer. But whatpart AM I adapted for in the Pageant?"
"If you will, I'd like you to be Maid of the Mist. As I say, I hadthought of a darker type, but with a floating veil of misty grey, andgrey, diaphanous draperies, you would be very effective. Turn the leastbit this way, please."
Patty obeyed directions, while she thought over his idea. "Maid of theMist" sounded pretty, and the artist's float was sure to be a beautifulone.
"Yes, I'll take that part, if you want me to," she said, and Mr. Cromersaid he would design her costume that afternoon.
"Hello, Apple Blossom!" called a big, round voice, and Bill Farnsworthcame strolling along the terrace. Perched on his shoulder was Baby May,her tiny hands grasping his thick, wavy hair, and her tiny feetkicking, as she squealed in glee.
"Misser Bill my horsie," she announced. "Me go ridy-by."
"IS there something on my shoulder?" asked Bill, seemingly unconsciousof his burden. "I thought a piece of thistledown lighted there, but itmay have blown off."
"There is a bit of thistledown there," said Patty, "but don't brush itoff. It's rather becoming to you."
"Indeed it is," agreed Cromer. "I'd like to sketch you and that mite ofhumanity together."
"You're ready to sketch anybody that comes along, seems to me,"observed Bill. "Isn't this Miss Fairfield's turn?"
"I expect she's about tired of holding her pose," said the artist."I'll give her a rest, and make a lightning sketch of you two. Baby'smother may like to have it."
"Oh, give it to me!" begged Patty. "I'd love to have a picture of BabyMay."
"But there'll be so much more of me in it than Baby May," said Bill,gravely.
"Never mind," laughed Patty. "I shan't object to your presence there.Now, I'll run away while you pose, for I MIGHT make you laugh at thew
rong time."
"Don't go," pleaded Bill, but Patty had already gone.
"What a beautiful thing she is," said Cromer, as he worked away at hissketch-block. He spoke quite as if referring to some inanimate object,for he looked at Patty only with an artist's eye.
"She is," agreed Bill. "She's all of that, and then some. She'll make aperfect Spirit of the Sea. I say, Cromer, help me rig up my Neptunetogs, will you?"
"Of course I will, old chap. But Miss Fairfield isn't going to be onyour float. She's agreed to be my Maid of the Mist."
"She HAS! I say, Cromer, that's too bad of you! How did you persuadeher to change her plan?"
"She didn't change. She had no idea of being on your float. She askedme what I thought she'd better be, and she said all the most desirableparts were already assigned."
"H'm, quite so! Oh, of course,--certainly! Yes, yes, INDEED!"
"What's the matter with you, Bill? Are you raving? Your speech is a bitincoherent."
"Incoherent, is it? Lucky for you! If I were coherent, or said what I'mthinking, you'd be some surprised! You go on making your pencil markswhile I think this thing out. All right, Baby; did Uncle Bill joggleyou too much? There,--now you're comfy again, aren't you? I say,Laurence, I'll have my picture taken some other day. Excuse me now,won't you? I have a few small fish to fry. Come, Babykins, let's gofind mummy."
"H'm," said Laurence Cromer to himself, as Bill swung off with mightystrides toward the house. "Somehow, I fancy he'll regain his lostSpirit of the Sea, or there'll be something doing!"
Baby May was gently, if somewhat unceremoniously, deposited in hermother's lap, and Bill said gaily, "Much obliged for this dance.Reserve me one for to-morrow morning at the same hour. And, I say, Mrs.Kenerley, could you put me on the trail of Miss Fairfield?"
"She went off in her runabout with Roger Farrington. I think she'sheading for the telegraph office to order much materials and gewgawsfor the Pageant."
"Then, do you know where Daisy Dow is? I MUST flirt with somebody!"
"Try me," said pretty little Mrs. Kenerley, demurely.
"I would, but I'm afraid Baby May would tell her father."
"That's so; she might. Well, Daisy is at the telephone in the library;I hear her talking."
"Thank you," said Big Bill, abruptly, and started for the library.
"Yes," he heard Daisy saying as he entered the room, "a long, lightgreen veil, floating backward, held by a wreath of silver stars ...Certainly ... Oh, yes, I understand ... Good-bye."
She hung up the receiver, and turned to see Bill looking at her with apeculiar expression on his handsome, honest face.
"What are you going to represent in your light green veil, Daisy?" heasked.
"The Spirit of the Sea," she replied. "I've arranged for the loveliestcostume,--all green and shimmery, and dripping with seaweed."
"How did you happen to be chosen for that part, Daisy?"
"Guy Martin insisted upon it. He said there was no one else just rightfor it."
"How about Patty Fairfield?"
"Oh, she WOULDN'T take it. She told Guy so."
"She did! I wonder WHY she wouldn't take it?"
"I don't know, Bill, I'm sure. It COULDN'T have been because you'reNeptune, could it?"
"It might be," Bill flung out, between closed teeth, and turning, hestrode quickly away.
"Bill," called Daisy, and he returned.
"What is it?" he said, and his face showed a hurt, pained look, ratherthan anger.
"Only this: Patty asked Guy as a special favour not to mention thismatter to her. So I daresay you'll feel in honour bound not to speak ofit."
"H'm; I don't know as my honour binds me very strongly in thatdirection."
"But it MUST, Bill!" and Daisy looked distinctly troubled. "I oughtn'tto have told you, for Patty trusted me not to tell anybody."
"Patty ought to know better than to trust you at all!" and with thisparting shaft, Bill walked away. On the veranda he met Guy Martin, whohad called for a moment to discuss some Pageant plans with Mona. Guywas just leaving, and Bill walked by his side, down the path to thegate.
"Just a moment, Martin, please. As man to man, tell me if PattyFairfield refused to take the part of the Spirit of the Sea?"
"Why, yes; she did," said Guy, looking perplexed. "It's a queerbusiness and very unlike Patty. But she wrote me a note, saying shedidn't want the part, and asking me not to mention the matter to her atall."
"She did? Thank you. Good-bye." And Bill returned to the house,apparently thinking deeply.
"Hello, Billy Boy, what's the matter?" called Mona, gaily, as he cameup the veranda steps.
"I'm pining for you," returned Bill. "Do shed the light of yourcountenance on me for a few blissful moments. You're the mostunattainable hostess I ever house-partied with!"
"All right, I'll walk down to the lower terrace and back with you. Now,tell me what's on your mind."
"How sympathetic you are, Mona. Well, I will tell you. I'm all brokenup over this Pageant business. I wanted Patty Fairfield on the floatwith me, and she won't take the part, and now Daisy has cabbaged it."
"I know it. But Patty says Guy Martin chose Daisy in preference to her.And she says it's all right."
"Great jumping Anacondas! She says THAT, does she? And she says it'sall right, does she? Well, it's just about as far from all right as theNorth Pole is from the South Pole! Oh--ho! E--hee! Wow, wow! I perceivea small beam of light breaking in upon this black cat's pocket of asituation! Mona, will you excuse me while I go to raise large andelegant ructions among your lady friends?"
"Now, Bill, don't stir up a fuss. I know your wild Western way ofgiving people 'a piece of your mind,' but Spring Beach society doesn'tapprove of such methods. What's it all about, Bill? Tell me, and let'ssettle it quietly."
"Settle it quietly! When an injustice has been done that ought to beblazoned from East to West!"
"Yes, and make matters most uncomfortable for the victim of thatinjustice."
Big Bill calmed down. The anger faded from his face, his handsunclenched themselves, and he sat down on the terrace balustrade.
"You're right, Mona," he said, in a low, tense voice. "I'm nothing butan untamed cowboy! I have no refinement, no culture, no judgment. ButI'll do as you say; I'll settle this thing QUIETLY."
As a matter of fact, Bill's quiet, stern face and firm-set jawbetokened an even more strenuous "settlement" than his blustering moodhad done; but he dropped the whole subject, and began to talk to Mona,interestedly, about her own part in the Pageant.